Déjà vu - Chapter 5/11 [The Gazette - Reita/Ruki]
Title: Déjà vu
Author: shir0ukun
Rating: PG15 (in this chapter)
Genre: AU | Romance | Fluff | Angst | Slight Humour | Science Fiction | Drama
Chapter: [5/11]
Warnings: MxM sex | Witch Hunts | Time Travelling
Band[s]: The GazettE
Pairing[s]: Reita/Ruki (Akira/Takanori)
Synopsis: Akira is a historian who has spent much of his life unraveling the many dark histories of Great Britain. The dirty secrets of the past have tainted his soul, and just as his senses are to become completely numbed, he sets sight upon a beautiful inventor that keeps appearing in his dreams. Things get a little more complicated when this stranger he falls in love with turns out to have died- no less than three centuries ago.
Comments: Enjoy. (:
Previous Chapters:
[Chapter 4]
[Chapter 3]
[Chapter 2]
[Chapter 1]
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Chapter 5: Felony
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Akira had a decision to make.
Save Takanori- and bear the consequences? Or leave him; and return to the future with no more meaning to life? He fisted his hair in exasperation, tuning out the sounds of the mob and Takanori’s relentless questions. Only two things occupied his mind now, but it felt like it was about to split itself into half right then.
Under no circumstances, Akira, should you rewrite history…
Kouyou’s words overwhelmed him, wreaking havoc in his mind. The honey blonde’s face appeared for an instant, his eyes trustful and pleading at the same time. Kouyou trusted him- Akira couldn’t betray his trust. There was a sudden change in memory.
And I trust you, this time, it was an image of Takanori from just hours ago, I trust you, Akira; even though you are a complete stranger. Something’s wrong with me.
There’s nothing wrong with you, was what Akira had wanted to reply back then. Takanori trusted him too; he was going to betray someone’s trust either way. He dropped into a crouching position with a faint hope of shrinking away from reality. He could feel Takanori’s cold hands on his arm, prodding, caressing. There was no way out- there was no time. He had to make a decision right then and there before the mob tears the door down and leaves him with no other choices.
Stand up, Akira. He groaned and pushed himself up, fighting hard to think simple. He had chosen this path himself- and it was only right that he take responsibility for it. He’d known that complications are bound to occur; and he’d told himself back then that he would be able to deal with it. Now was the time- his mind seemed to clear all of a sudden, a firm decision made. He steeled himself and returned to the present.
Takanori’s eyes were widened in horror, more so at Akira’s abnormal behavior than the beasts prowling about just beyond the door. In an instant, Akira grabbed the blanket and hulled it over his shoulders. Taking Takanori’s hand in his, he spoke over the loud pounding of the door.
“Do you trust me, Takanori?”
“What?”
“Do you trust me?” Akira repeated, raising his voice, “Answer me!”
Takanori looked from the door to Akira, completely clueless to what was happening.
“I do!”
And with that, Akira’s mind was set.
“We need to get out of this place, now. Is there any way out other than the front door?”
“Y-yes,” Takanori nodded, “Follow me.”
The small blonde led the way towards a kitchen, where a barely visible door stood. It was cramped between two cabinets, and it took them a while to pry open the door, rusty from the lack of use. They tore outwards the moment it swung open, Akira leading the way into the forest. Takanori’s mind seemed to brim over with questions, and he had no intentions of keeping them back this time. As he let himself be dragged along behind Akira, something caught his attention.
Stopping abruptly, Akira found himself pulled back with incredible force. Takanori stood rooted to the ground, staring back at the house. The hazel blonde frowned, biting his lips when he followed his lover’s gaze.
The shed, now fully visible from behind the house, was in flames. The fire had just started- but the building was already burnt in some places and collapsing in others. They couldn’t see what had happened to the inventions inside, but Akira was sure it would make it much worse than it already is for Takanori. No, he corrected himself, Takanori must be devastated. The younger man was expressionless as he simply stared at the fuming infrastructure. Akira was beyond worried- but they had to move.
“Come on, Takanori,” Akira pulled his lover along, and this time, he moved, “Let’s get going.”
The fire crackled brightly among the twigs, lighting up the cave and warming up its two occupants. Takanori was seated at the edge of the fire, staring into the flames blankly with a blanket wrapped around his form. Akira was shivering himself, but he thought he should allow his lover some time alone. Standing at the opening of the cave, he stared out beyond the forest and at the burning shed, along with the large crowd of people armed with axes and torches. Akira felt a chill down his bone.
Nightfall arrived before long, basking the cave in the glory of the sun set. For hours, Takanori had been completely silent, staring at the dying fire until it was a pile of ash. Akira returned with more twigs, setting up the fire and watching it flourish into flames once more. He heard his stomach growl and realized that the both of them had not eaten since this morning. Grateful for the food he’d grabbed from the house, he brought out a couple of fruits from within his pockets and wiped one on his clothes.
“Have it. You haven’t eaten since morning,” Akira held out an apple; Takanori did not move, “Taka?”
Still, there was no reaction. Akira felt his heart sink. Worrying for Takanori had momentarily taken his mind off his decision, but now that he was actually talking to the former, he plunged into a state of devastation when he realized it was his decision that had thrown Takanori into trauma. Granted, Akira had the best intentions at heart when he had saved his lover. But what he hadn’t expected was the sight of the shed in flames. Takanori loved his inventions more than anything else, and it was nowhere near his imagination that witch hunts could be carried out with such ease and cruelty.
“Everything…” Takanori finally spoke, his voice sounding, if anything at all, broken and utterly disheartened, “Is gone.”
“I’m sorry, Taka…” Akira shifted closer and pulled his lover into a gentle embrace, “I’m so, so sorry.”
“… They mean everything to me, Akira…” Takanori’s voice broke, “They are the only proof of my existence… Every single one of them.”
“I understand, Taka, I do.”
“No, you don’t,” When Takanori pushed Akira away, tears were already running down his cheeks. Akira’s heart cringed in pain at the sight of his helpless lover.
“I do, Takanori. And I say that for I know how it is to love someone,” Akira’s hand came up to cradle Takanori’s cheeks, but it fell limp by his side when the latter slapped it away.
“… Leave me alone…” Takanori turned away, burying his face in his hands.
“Don’t do this, Taka… talk to me.”
“What do you know?!” Takanori shouted, his statement echoing viciously in the cave, “Nothing, Akir-”
Takanori broke off mid-sentence when he found himself pulled into a tight embrace. Akira’s strong hands were wrapped tightly around him before he knew it and his chin bumped against his shoulders. Recovering from the shock, Takanori abided by his instincts and struggled. He pushed, he shoved and hit in an attempt to tear away from Akira’s grasp to no avail. Akira’s heart felt like it was about to burst soon- but not from the weak punches Takanori pulled on him. He knew his heart would break in no time if Takanori remained broken like this. He refused to let go of his lover whose struggles were starting to die down.
“Let me go.”
“No.”
“There’s nothing to live for anymore.”
Akira felt a sharp pain in his chest.
“There’s still me… I’m sorry.”
And Takanori screamed, a sound so painful and ridden with a kind of loss Akira found oddly familiar.
The night after that was spent in silence with Takanori falling fast asleep within Akira’s arms. When the latter woke up the next morning, he came to emptiness within his grasp and realized his lover was nowhere to be found.
“Takanori?” Akira called for his lover, Takanori’s name bouncing loudly off the walls. No reply came, and the hazel blonde pushed his tired body off the cave wall. His instincts led him to the cave opening, where he found Takanori staring into the forest. With a sigh of relief, he moved to stand beside him.
“You weren’t there when I woke up. I thought something happened to you.”
“What can happen to me?” Takanori scoffed, his face expressionless, “Wouldn’t I be better off dead?”
Akira frowned, but Takanori broke him off before he could speak.
“Can I ask you a question, Akira?”
Takanori turned to face him, his face void of emotion. Akira felt like he was dealing with a complete different person- it wasn’t Takanori, or even the stranger he used to know; standing before him was a lifeless man, overwhelmed with rage and the hunger for vengeance.
“Yes.”
“Who are you?” Akira held his breath. The question came all too sudden, breaking his wall of defense and throwing his mind into a state of mayhem. Takanori never asked about his identity- and it could only mean one thing if he decided to pop the question. Takanori no longer trusted him; yeah, Akira decided, maybe I deserved that.
“I’m sorry. I can’t answer your question.” Akira knew his answer would only spark off distrust between him and his lover; he knew that he was sabotaging his very own love, but he chose to stick with his decision. He’d broken the law of the fucking universe just hours ago, and he couldn’t afford to go against Mother Nature once more. No, he corrected himself, he didn’t just break a law; what he’d just committed was a felony- one with consequences he knew he would never be able to bear.
“I want your answer.”
“I’m sorry, Takanori… Anything else but this…”
Akira wasn’t a superhero; as much as he wanted to protect Takanori, he knew his own soul was about to crumple soon. He had his limits.
“You love me, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“I love you too,” Takanori nodded, but all Akira could feel was a chain of endless wrath, “But what can come out with a relationship without trust?”
“You’ve never asked me about this before. Why now?”
“You don’t trust me, Akira.” When Akira met his lover’s eyes, he noticed it no longer shimmered even in the sun. The pair of kind, trusting eyes was gone- now replaced with those belonging to a mad man’s.
“You’re angry now, Takanori. The feeling of loss has clouded your judgment. You don’t want to do this.”
“Answer me, Akira!” Takanori rose his voice, “It’s not that hard, is it?”
“Takanori, this conversation is going nowhere.” Akira raised his voice and stood his ground.
Takanori’s eyes widened before he gave a laugh, one that reeked of malicious disdain.
“It’s me… or your little secret now, Akira,” Takanori shifted closer such that he was in Akira’s personal space, “You can choose to tell me about yourself. Or not and never see me in your life again.”
Impossible. Takanori wanted him to choose; he couldn’t. It was Kouyou’s words and Takanori’s trust once more.
“Why…?” Akira asked, his voice shaky and disappointed, “Why do you have to do this? … Believe me, Takanori; put your trust in me, and I’ll be there for you till the ends of the world.”
“… I need proof, Akira. There’s nothing in my life anymore. I need to know that you’re real; and that you live,” Takanori placed a hand on his own chest, “For me.”
Akira made his decision. He took in a deep breath and steeled himself for what was about to come.
“I’m sorry.”
There was a moment of silence, and Takanori laughed. He looked away, presumably to blink away the tears in his eyes. Akira noticed there was no anger in the laugh.
“I see…” Takanori nodded, a sad smile on his face, “So, that’s your answer, huh?”
“Taka…” Akira reached out, but his lover was already backing away.
“Then I guess it’s goodbye,” Akira panicked, “Don’t come after me.”
“No, Takanori, don’t do this,” The hazel blonde opened his arms, “Come back. Please.”
“I’m sorry, Akira,” Takanori turned around, mouthing the words to himself, “I loved you.”
What am I doing?
Takanori placed his hand on the tree, shivering as a gust of wind blew. He was back at the river he knew so well- yet everything felt so different. He no longer had a home to return to; there was nothing else that he could tell the trees now that his inventions were all gone. He’d passed by the burnt patch of grass where his shed should have been and refused to look at it. All he had now was broken pieces of memories- an image of his shed from just hours ago, when it was still intact, and the kiss he shared with Akira.
What have I done?
Takanori leaned heavily against the tree, his cheeks tear stained and eyes red and swollen. Akira had saved his life; he was the one that had embraced Takanori when he needed warmth the most; he was the one that had refused to let go even as Takanori sprouted those hurtful words out of anger. He’d accepted Takanori and his all- no matter if he was his kind own self or the maniac that had been driven out from wrath. With his inventions gone and house in flames, Akira was Takanori’s everything- and yet Takanori had gone and destroyed the last of his own happiness.
I’m an idiot.
Kneeling beside the river, Takanori splashed water on his face.
Will you live the rest of your life with me?
Akira’s words rang in his mind, the image of the hazel blonde coming into mind. He had on an earnest expression- he always was. Akira pushed; but he never shoved. He never went overboard or come on too strong, as if in fear of hurting his love. He always treated Takanori gingerly, no matter if the latter avoided his questions or played hard-to-get.
I’m a real idiot.
Staring into his own reflection in the river, Takanori, for a moment, couldn’t recognize his own self. Devastated and vengeful, this wasn’t the Takanori he knew. Takanori would pick himself up when he tripped over and fell. Takanori would delete and start over again if any of his experiments failed.
And that was when he realized something was different; Takanori was no longer alone. The trees whispering behind him are no longer his confidant, now replaced with a human, all flesh and blood. He was no longer an abandoned son, a hated brother, but a man, treasured and loved. Akira was willing to give up anything for him- but what was he willing to do in return?
Looking up and glaring at the mid day sun, a decision was made.
I love him.
He stood, looking back at the way he came from.
I want him.
Takanori took a step forward, and then another.
I need him, Takanori smiled beneath the rays of the Sun, he’ll be my everything.
The blonde increased his pace, almost breaking into a run. He couldn’t wait to see Akira’s expression when he returns to him; he couldn’t wait to feel Akira’s hands around his body in a loving embrace. The trip back wouldn’t take long, and Takanori wished with all his heart that he could appear before his lover this instant.
And then all of a sudden, he stopped dead, stock still in his tracks.
He strained his ears for sounds in his surroundings, urging even his blood to stop flowing in his veins. When he heard the second sound, however, it was all too late.
It was too late, when Takanori realized he was no longer alone, in the face of a line of armed witch-hunters.